Facility for playing

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a facility for playing which comprises a plurality of balloons ( 4 ) retained in a space defined by a partition member ( 2 ), and at least one air supply device ( 7 ) for causing air to flow within the space, wherein the partition member ( 2 ) is constituted by an air permeable member and/or an air impermeable member, wherein the air supply device ( 7 ) is provided adjacent the bottom of the space inside and/or outside the space. The air permeable member constitutes at least a portion of the partition member ( 2 ) located adjacent the air supply device ( 7 ) provided outside the space as opposed thereto. The air impermeable member constitutes a portion of the partition member ( 2 ) located in a spaced and opposed relation to the air supply device ( 7 ), or provided downstream of the air supply device ( 7 ). The air stream supplied from the air supply device ( 7 ) is deflected by the air impermeable member opposed to the air supply device ( 7 ) to flow upward, so that the balloons ( 4 ) retained in the space are stirred by the air stream from the air supply device ( 7 ) and the upward air stream thereby to float and swirl.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a facility for playing (an amusementsystem) which is advantageously installed in a resort or amusement placesuch as an amusement park or an ordinary park, a department store or ashopping center where infants are likely to gather.

BACKGROUND ART

As well known, various amusement systems for pleasure are installed inamusement parks and the like. For example, there are known amusementsystems which comprise a horizontal rotary shaft, arms fixed to theshaft and a seat fixed to the arms, whereby the seat is rotated orpivoted about the rotary shaft within a vertical plane. With thesesystems, a player on the seat bodily senses the gravity (G) duringascent and the zero gravity during descent. That is, the player caneasily get a special bodily sensation that cannot be experienced indaily life. These amusement systems have gained great popularity amongpeople, particularly among adolescents.

Roller coasters are also well known as amusement rides which causeriders to feel speeds and thrills. In recent years, amusement rides havebeen proposed which are provided with a loop portion and a suddenreverse portion for enhancement of the feeling of speeds and thrills.These amusement systems, which also give riders a special bodilysensation that cannot be experienced in daily life, have gained greatpopularity among people, particularly among adolescents.

However, the aforesaid amusement systems have been developed mainly foradolescents who have a sufficient physical strength, and a limitednumber of amusement systems have been developed for infants who areyounger generation than the adolescents.

In this respect, the inventor of the present invention proposed anamusement system mainly for infants as disclosed in Japanese UnexaminedPatent Publication No. 8-126769 (1996). The amusement system includesfour support posts standing upright, a partition member of a meshmaterial stretched between the support posts, a cover sheet providedalong a hem of the partition member, balloons retained in a spacedefined by the partition member, and air supply devices mounted on upperends of the respective support posts.

In this amusement system, air streams generated by the air supplydevices flow from the top toward the bottom of the space. The airstreams are deflected by the bottom of the space and the cover sheet,and then flow back inwardly of the space to form spiral air streams. Theballoons retained in the space are stirred by the spiral air streamsthereby to float and swirl. Infant players play in various ways withinthe space in which the balloons are thus floating and swirling.

Although this amusement system gives pleasure with an unprecedentedamusement to the infants, the amusement system needs to be improved inthe following aspects.

Where the balloons are charged with a gas such as helium having a lowerspecific gravity, the balloons are a readily stirred by the air streamsflowing from the top toward the bottom of the space. More specifically,the balloons are carried downward by the air streams and then upward inthe space because of their specific gravity and, again, carried downwardby the air streams. Thus, the balloons easily float and swirl. Where theballoons are charged with air, on the other hand, the balloons sink onthe bottom of the space in a windless state because of their specificgravity. Therefore, upward air streams flowing upward within the spaceshould be generated to cause the balloons to float and swirl.

However, the amusement system is adapted to cause the air streams toflow from the top toward the bottom of the space so that the air streamsafter hitting against the bottom of the space flow along the bottom.This disadvantageously makes it difficult to generate upward air streamswhich flow upward in the space. Therefore, the plurality of air supplydevices are provided at the top of the space in the amusement system tocause the air streams from the air supply devices to hit against thebottom of the space for generation of the upward air streams flowingtoward the top of the space. However, the upward air streams have lowerspeeds because the air streams having hit against the bottom of thespace collide with each other to form the upward air streams.

Since the air supply devices are mounted on the upper ends of thesupport posts in the amusement system, the support posts should have asufficiently high strength to stably support the air supply devices, andshould firmly be fixed on a floor to stably maintain their uprightposture. Therefore, the support posts are heavy and, hence, difficult totransport. Further, assembling of the system requires much time and theassembling operation is not easy.

The amusement system is intended mainly for infants. Therefore, suchamusement systems may be installed not only in amusement parks andordinary parks but also in department stores and shopping centers whereinfants are likely to gather. Where the amusement system is installed ina department store or a shopping center, the amusement system may beused for an extended period or in an event site for a limited period. Inthis respect, it is preferred that the amusement system can easily betransported and easily and conveniently be assembled. Therefore, theprior art amusement system needs to be improved for ease oftransportation and assembling thereof.

As a result of intensive studies conducted to further improve the priorart amusement system, the inventor has achieved the present invention.It is an object of the present invention to provide an amusement systemwhich is capable of easily generating an upward air stream and is easyto transport and convenient to assemble.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a facilityfor playing (an amusement system) which comprises a plurality ofballoons retained in a space defined by a partition member, and at leastone air supply means for causing air to flow within the space, whereinthe partition member is constituted by an air permeable member and/or anair impermeable member, wherein the air supply means is providedadjacent the bottom of the space inside and/or outside the space,wherein the air permeable member constitutes at least a portion of thepartition member adjacent the air supply means provided outside thespace as opposed thereto, whereby the air supply means generates an airstream which flows along the bottom of the space so that the balloonsretained in the space are stirred by the air stream generated by the airsupply means thereby to float and swirl.

When the air supply means is driven, an air stream of a predeterminedspeed is supplied from the air supply means. Since the air permeablemember of the partition member is located adjacent the air supply meansas opposed thereto, the air stream supplied from the air supply meansprovided outside the space passes through the air permeable member intothe space to flow along the bottom of the space (along a floor surface)On the other hand, the air stream from the air supply means providedinside the space directly flows along the bottom of the space.

Where the air impermeable member of the partition member is located in aspaced and opposed relation to the air supply means or locateddownstream of the air supply means, the air stream flowing along thebottom of the space hits against the air impermeable member to bedeflected, and flow along the air impermeable member.

Where the air impermeable member is provided perpendicularly to thebottom of the space, the air stream supplied from the air supply meansis deflected by the air impermeable member to flow along the airimpermeable member, i.e., deflected into an upward air stream flowingupward in the space.

In accordance with the present invention, the upward air stream iseasily generated within the space. Further, the air stream flowing alongthe bottom of the space once hits against the air impermeable member tobe deflected into the upward air stream. Therefore, reduction in thekinetic energy of the air stream is suppressed, so that the speed of theupward air stream can properly be maintained. Even if the balloonsretained in the space have such a high specific gravity that theballoons sink on the bottom of the space in a windless state, theballoons can easily be stirred thereby to float and swirl. That is, theballoons present adjacent the bottom of the space is moved upward in thespace by the air stream flowing along the bottom of the space and theupward air stream flowing along the air impermeable member. Finally, theballoons naturally sink onto the bottom of the space by gravity. Thisprocess sequence is repeated, whereby the balloons float and swirl.

Players play in various ways within the space in which the balloons arethus floating and swirling. For example, infant players play tag withtheir sight being obstructed by the balloons. Adult players walk intothe space through an entrance to look for an exit thereby to enjoyfeeling as if they were in a labyrinth. Further, players simply enjoycatching the floating balloons.

Since-the air supply means is provided adjacent the bottom of the space,the provision of the air supply means is easily achieved with arelatively simple construction. Therefore, the amusement systemaccording to the present invention is easy to transport and easy andconvenient to assemble.

The air permeable member herein means a member that permits air (gas) topass therethrough from one side to the other side thereof withsufficient vigor, and examples thereof include a mesh member and a gridmember. More specifically, the air permeable member may be composed, forexample, of a mesh material or a grid material of natural fibers such asof a resin (e.g., rubber) or a metal, synthetic fibers, glass filamentsor metal filaments, or composed of a mesh material or a grid material ofropes or belts of any of these fibers and filaments. The air impermeablemember is capable of limiting air passage to some extent, and may be aplate such as a glass plate, an acryl plate or a wood plate, a resinsheet such as a nylon sheet or a vinyl sheet, a woven or knitted fabric,or a structure such as of concrete.

The air supply means to be employed in the present invention may includeat least one pair of air supply means which are disposed in such arelation that air supply directions thereof are crosswise to each other.With this arrangement, the air streams supplied from the respective airsupply means flow along the bottom of the space and collide with eachother within the space, so that turbulence (swirl) including an upwardair stream flowing upward in the space is generated. The balloonsretained in the space are stirred by the air streams from the air supplymeans and the turbulence thereby to float and swirl. Therefore, the airstreams collide with each other with a smaller energy loss than in acase where the air streams hit against other members before collidingwith each other. Thus, the speed of the turbulence after the collisionis properly maintained, so that the balloons in the space float andvigorously swirl.

The air supply means may include an air supply mechanism for supplyingenergized gas in a predetermined direction, and a housing accommodatingtherein the air supply mechanism and having an air inlet and an airoutlet. This arrangement is preferred because the players and the likecan step onto the housing. More specifically, where the air supply meansis located adjacent the bottom of the space outside the space, observersof infant players can observe or keep watch on the infant players whoare playing in the space from the outside while sitting on the housingwithout physical fatigue. Where the air supply means is located adjacentthe bottom of the space inside the space, the infants (players) canenjoy stepping on and off the housing with increasing pleasure.

The air outlet may be provided with louvers for changing the flowdirection of the air stream supplied from the air supply mechanism.Thus, the air flow direction in the space can be adjusted by thelouvers, whereby the floating state of the balloons in the space can beoptimized. The louvers may be adapted to be driven by driver means, sothat the air flow direction within the space can automatically bechanged. Thus, the air flow direction can be varied every moment,whereby the floating state of the balloons can be varied.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating an amusement system accordingto a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view as seen in an arrow direction I—I in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view as seen in an arrow direction II—II in FIG.1;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view illustrating another preferred amusementsystem according to the invention;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view illustrating further another preferredamusement system according to the invention;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view illustrating still another preferredamusement system according to the invention;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view illustrating a modification of the amusementsystem shown in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view illustrating another modification of theamusement system shown in FIG. 6;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view illustrating further another preferredamusement system according to the invention;

FIG. 10 is a sectional view illustrating a modification of the amusementsystem shown in FIGS. 1 to 3;

FIG. 11 is a sectional view illustrating another modification of theamusement system shown in FIGS. 1 to 3;

FIG. 12 is a sectional view illustrating a modification of the amusementsystem shown in FIG. 8; and

FIG. 13 is a sectional view illustrating further another modification ofthe amusement system shown in FIGS. 1 to 3.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

The amusement system (the facility for playing) according to the presentinvention will hereinafter be described in detail with reference to theattached drawings.

An amusement system 1 as shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 includes four supportposts 3 standing upright on a floor surface 6, a mesh partition member 2as the air permeable member spread over the support posts 3, balloonsretained in a space defined by the partition member 2, and air supplymeans 7 provided adjacent a lower portion of the partition memberoutside the space.

The partition member 2 is spread over and stretched between the supportposts 3 as covering all the side faces and top face of the space whichhas a rectangular column shape defined by the four support posts 3. Sideedge portions of the partition member 2 overlap at a position A, so thata player can come into and out of the space through an opening formed bydrawing aside the overlapping portions of the partition member 2 at theposition A. The mesh partition member 2 is composed, for example, ofnatural fibers such as of a resin (e.g., rubber) or a metal, syntheticfibers or metal filaments, or composed of ropes or belts of any of thesefibers and filaments.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the air supply means 7 includes air supplymechanisms 8 for generating a constant air stream, and a housing 12accommodating therein the air supply mechanisms 8. The air supplymechanisms 8 each include an electric motor 10, a rotary fan 9 providedabout a rotation axis of the electric motor 10, and a bracket 11supporting the electric motor 10 on an interior surface of the housing12. The housing 12 has air outlets 13 provided in a face thereof opposedto the partition member 2, and air inlets 15 provided in an oppositeface thereof. The electric motors 10 are driven to rotate the rotaryblades 9, whereby air is drawn into the housing 12 through the airinlets 15 and air streams are caused to flow out at a predeterminedspeed through the air outlets 13. Grates 16 for preventing a person frominserting his finger or the like are fitted in the respective air inlets15, and louvers 14 for changing the flow direction of the air streamsgenerated by the rotary fans 9 are provided in the respective airoutlets 13. The louvers 14 extend horizontally and are each rotatableabout a horizontal axis thereof as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3.

The shape of the balloons 4 is not limited to a spherical shape as shownin FIG. 1, but may be of any of other various shapes. The balloons mayhave various colors, or each be imparted with a plurality of colors tobe colorful. Examples of a gas to be charged into the balloons 4 includehelium and air which are usually employed. The gas to be employed inthis embodiment preferably permits the balloons 4 to have such aspecific gravity that the balloons 4 naturally fall in a windless state.

In this embodiment, a side face of the partition member 2 opposite fromthe side thereof provided with the air supply means 7 contacts an airimpermeable wall surface 5 of a building as shown in FIG. 1.

In accordance with the amusement system 1, the electric motors 10 of theair supply means 7 are driven to rotate the rotary fans 9, whereby airis drawn into the housing 12 through the air inlets 15 and air streamsare caused to flow out at a predetermined speed through the air outlets13. As shown in FIG. 2, the air streams thus flowing out pass throughthe mesh partition member 2 into the space to flow along the floorsurface 6, and then pass through the opposite side face of the partitionmember 2 to reach the wall surface 5. The air streams having reached thewall surface 5 hit against the wall surface 5 to be deflected along thewall surface 5. Thus, the air streams mostly flow up vertically to formupward air streams.

The balloons 4 retained in the space are stirred by the air streamsthereby to float and swirl. That is, the balloons 4 which naturally fallonto the bottom of the space in a windless state sink onto the bottom ofthe space, and are moved toward the wall surface 5 by the air streamsflowing out through the air outlets 13 of the air supply means 7 alongthe floor surface 6. The balloons 4 carried into the vicinity of thewall surface 5 are moved upward along the wall surface 5 in the space bythe air streams (upward air streams) deflected by the wall surface 5.The balloons 4 carried to the top of the space hit against the top faceof the partition member 2 in the space thereby to be brought out of theupward air streams. Finally, the balloons naturally fall onto the bottomof the space by gravity. This process sequence is repeated, whereby theballoons float and swirl.

Players play in various ways within the space in which the balloons arethus floating and swirling. For example, infant players play tag withtheir sight being obstructed by the balloons 4. Adult players walk intothe space through an entrance to look for an exit thereby to enjoyfeeling as if they were in a labyrinth. Further, players simply enjoycatching the floating balloons 4.

What happens within the space can be observed from the outside throughthe mesh partition member 2, so that observers of the players can keepwatch on the players from the outside to see their states and plays. Inthis embodiment, the air supply mechanisms 8 are accommodated in thehousing 12, so that the observers can step onto the housing 12.Therefore, the observers can observe or watch the infant players who areplaying in the space from the outside while sitting on the housing 12without physical fatigue. Further, both the players and the observerscan visually enjoy with the colorful balloons retained in the space.

Since the air streams flowing along the bottom of the space hit againstthe wall surface 5 once to flow upward, reduction in the kinetic energyof the air streams is suppressed, and the speed of the upward airstreams is properly maintained.

Since the air supply mechanisms 8 of the air supply means 7 areaccommodated in the housing 12 and the air supply means 7 is providedadjacent the bottom of the space, the provision of the air supply means7 is very easily and readily achieved with no need for any specialstructure. In the amusement system 1, the support posts 3 merely serveto support the mesh partition member 2 and, therefore, may have a lowerstrength and a lower weight. Accordingly, the amusement system 1 is easyto transport and easy and convenient to assemble. Further, easytransportation of the air supply means 7 may be ensured by providingcasters (wheels) on an under face of the housing 12.

The louvers 14 provided in the air outlets 13 of the housing 12 areadapted to change the flow directions of the air streams supplied fromthe air supply mechanisms 8, so that the flow direction of the airstreams in the space can be adjusted. This optimizes the floating stateof the balloons in the space.

In this embodiment, the amusement system 1 is installed in such a mannerthat one side face of the space contacts the wall surface 5 of thebuilding and the air supply means 7 is provided opposite from the wallsurface 5. Alternatively, an air impermeable member 20 may be providedon an outer surface of the side face of the partition member 2 oppositefrom the air supply means 7 as shown in FIG. 4, or an air impermeablemember may be provided as a part of the side face of the partitionmember 2 opposite from the air supply means 7 so as to be opposed to theair supply means 7. In an extreme case, a mesh member may be provided asa part of the side face of the partition member 2 adjacent to the airsupply means 7 so as to be opposed to the air supply means 7 with theother part of the partition member 2 being constituted by an airimpermeable member. With this arrangement, the air streams supplied fromthe air supply means 7 flow along the bottom of the space and then hitagainst the air impermeable member 20 as in the aforesaid amusementsystem 1. The air streams are deflected by the air impermeable member 20thereby to flow upward. The upward air streams cause the balloons 4retained in the space to float and swirl. The air impermeable memberhave the function of limiting air passage to some extent, and examplesthereof include plate members such as a glass plate and an acryl plate,resin sheets such as a nylon sheet and a vinyl sheet, woven fabrics andknitted fabrics.

As shown in FIG. 5, the amusement system 1 according to the aforesaidembodiment may be constructed such that the partition member 2 isentirely constituted by an air impermeable member 20′ and the air supplymeans 7 is provided within the space. With this arrangement, players canenjoy stepping on and off the housing 12 with increasing pleasure. Inthis case, it is merely necessary that at least the part of the sideface of the partition member 2 opposite from the air supply means 7 isconstituted by an air impermeable member and, therefore, the other partof the partition member 2 may be constituted by a mesh member (airpermeable member)

The air supply means 7 may be constructed as shown in FIG. 6. FIG. 6 isa sectional view illustrating the amusement system as seen in the samedirection as the arrow direction II—II in FIG. 1. As shown, an amusementsystem 30 has substantially the same construction as the amusementsystem 1, except that a pair of air supply means 7′ having aconstruction slightly different from the construction of the air supplymeans 7 shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 are provided on opposite sides of thespace defined by the partition member 2. As shown in FIG. 6, the airsupply means 7′ each have a housing 12 like the air supply means 7 shownin FIG. 1. The housing 12 is partitioned into a plurality of chambers bypartition plates 12 a, and air supply mechanisms 8 are provided in everysecond chamber. The chambers of the housing 12 in which the air supplymechanisms 8 are provided each have an air inlet 15 and an air outlet13. As shown, the air supply mechanisms 8 of one of the air supply means7′ are opposed to a side face of the other air supply means 7′, andarranged in a staggered relation with respect to the air supplymechanisms 8 of the other air supply means 7′.

In the amusement system 30, air streams supplied from the respective airsupply mechanisms 8 of the air supply means 7′ flow along the bottom ofthe space and hit against side walls of the housings 12 of the opposedair supply means 7′. The air streams are deflected by the side wallsthereby to flow upward. The upward air streams cause the balloons 4retained in the space to float and swirl. The other action and effectprovided by this amusement system are the same as those provided by theamusement system 1. The amusement system 30 may be constructed such thatthe air supply means 7′ are disposed within the space. Morespecifically, both of the air supply means 7′ maybe disposed within thespace. Alternatively, one of the air supply means 7′ may be disposedinside the space with the other air supply means 7′ disposed outside thespace. It is merely necessary that at least a part of the partitionmember 2 opposed to the air outlets 13 of the air supply means 7disposed outside the space is constituted by the mesh member and,therefore, the other part of the partition member 2 may be constitutedby an air impermeable member.

The air supply means 7 may be constructed as shown in FIG. 7. FIG. 7 isa sectional view illustrating an amusement system as seen in the samedirection as the arrow direction II—II in FIG. 1. As shown, theamusement system 40 has substantially the same construction as theamusement system 1, except that a pair of air supply means 7 areprovided on opposite sides of the space defined by the partition member2. As shown in FIG. 7, the air supply mechanisms 8 of the respective airsupply means 7 are provided in an opposed relation in the amusementsystem 40. In the amusement system 40, air streams supplied from theopposed air supply mechanisms 8 flow along the bottom of the space andcollide with each other in a middle portion of the space. Thus, the airstreams are deflected thereby to flow upward in the space. The upwardair streams cause the balloons 4 retained in the space to float andswirl. Since the air streams flow in various ways after having collidedwith each other, the balloons 4 retained in the space are stirred by theair streams thus flowing in various ways thereby to float and swirl invarious ways.

As shown in FIG. 8, air supply means 7 may be disposed along theperiphery (four side faces) of the space. With this arrangement, airstreams flowing in four directions collide with each other in a centralportion of the space thereby to flow vigorously in various ways. The airstreams cause the balloons 4 retained in the space to float and swirl infurther various ways. The other action and effect provided by thisamusement system are the same as those provided by the aforesaidamusement system 1.

In this case, the air supply means 7 may be provided within the space.More specifically, all the air supply means 7 may be disposed inside thespace. Alternatively, some of the air supply means 7 may be disposedinside the space with the other air supply means 7 disposed outside thespace. It is merely necessary that at least a part of the partitionmember 2 opposed to air outlets 13 of the air supply means 7 disposedoutside the space is constituted by a mesh member and, therefore, theother part of the partition member 2 may be constituted by the airimpermeable material.

The amusement system according to the present invention may beconstructed as shown in FIG. 9. As shown, an amusement system 60includes a base member 61 of a rectangular ring shape, support posts 62provided on respective corners of the base member 61, and a top member65 having a rectangular ring shape conformal to the base member 61 andconnected to top ends of the respective support posts 62. The basemember 61, the support posts 62 and the top member 65 are hollow memberswhich are composed of a generally resilient sheet, and the hollow insideportions thereof communicate with each other. The base member 61, thesupport members 62 and the top member 65 are supplied with compressedair from compressed air supply means (not shown) such as a compressor ora blower so as to be expanded into the illustrated shape by thecompressed air. The base member 61 has air outlets 61 a provided atpredetermined intervals along an inner periphery thereof, so that thecompressed air supplied into the base member 61 is discharged from theair outlets 61 a. The base member 61 and the compressed air supply means(not shown) serve as the air supply means.

A top face and upper portions of side faces of a space defined by thebase member 61, the support posts 62 and the top member 65,are coveredwith a mesh member 63, and lower portions of the side faces of the spaceare covered with a sheet member 64. Thus, the space is enclosed by thebase member 61, the support posts 62, the top member 65, the mesh member63 and the sheet member 64. A plurality of balloons are retained in thespace. In FIG. 9, a portion of the mesh member 63 covering the top faceof the space is not illustrated for convenience.

In the amusement system 60 having the aforesaid construction, thecompressed air supplied into the base member 61 is discharged into thespace from the respective air outlets 61 a to form air streams, whichflow along a bottom surface of the space and collide with each other ina central portion of the space. Thus, the air streams are deflectedthereby to flow upward in the space. The upward air streams cause theballoons retained in the space to float and swirl. As in the aforesaidcases, the collision causes the air streams to flow in various ways, sothat the balloons retained in the space are stirred by the air streamsflowing in various ways thereby to float and swirl in various ways. Thebase member 61, the top member 65 and the support posts 62 each havingresiliency are safe for players. Where a bottom portion of the space isconstructed in the same manner as the base member 61, the top member 65and the support posts 62, the players can get amusement with a floatingfeeling.

Although the lower portions of the side faces of the space are definedby the air impermeable sheet member 64 in this case, an air permeablemesh member 63 may be employed instead of the sheet member 64 fordefining the lower portions. On the contrary, a sheet member 64 may beemployed instead of the mesh member 63 for defining the space. In thiscase, at least one air vent is preferably provided in the top face orside faces of the space for discharging the air from the inside to theoutside of the space, or a part of the partition member defining the topface or a side face of the space is constituted by an air permeablemember.

Although the air outlets 61 a are provided along the inner periphery ofthe base member 61 in this case, the positions of the air outlets arenot limited thereto. The air outlets 61 a may be provide in the innerperiphery of the base member 61 along at least one edge thereof. Wherethe air outlets 61 a are provided only along the one edge, a lowerportion of a side face of the space opposite from the edge of the basemember provided with the air outlets 61 a is preferably constituted by asheet member 64. Thus, the air streams discharged from the air outlets61 a flow along the bottom of the space, and then hit against the sheetmember 64 thereby to be deflected. The air streams flow up generallyvertically along the sheet member 64, so that the balloons retained inthe space are stirred by the upward air streams thereby to float andswirl.

Although the compressed air is supplied to the air outlets 61 a throughthe same flow path as supplied to the base member 61, the top member 65and the support posts 62 for expansion thereof in this case, thearrangement for the supply of the compressed air is not limited thereto.Different flow paths may be provided to supply the compressed air to thebase member 61, the top member 65 and the support posts 62 for expansionthereof and to supply the compressed air to the air outlets 61 a bypartitioning the inside of the base member 61. This arrangement preventsreduction of the internal pressure of the base member 61, the top member65 and the support members 62 which may otherwise occur due to dischargeof the compressed air through the air outlets 61 a, so that the basemember 61, the top member 65 and the support members 62 can maintaintheir shapes shown in FIG. 9.

While the specific amusement systems according to the present inventionhave thus been described in detail, specific embodiments of theinvention will not be limited to these amusement systems. In theamusement systems shown in FIGS. 1 to 9, the space defined by thepartition member 2, 63 is of a rectangular column shape. The shape ofthe space is not limited thereto, but may be any of other polygonalcolumn shapes, cylindrical shapes, oval column shapes, and dome shapeswith a polygonal, round or oval bottom face. In this case, the housing12 of the air supply means 7, 7′ preferably has a shape conforming tothe shape of the outer periphery of the space. In any of the amusementsystems shown in FIGS. 1 to 8, a dome-shaped space can easily be formedby employing flexible bars for formation of a frame. The bars are curvedinto an arcuate form, on which the partition member 2 is supported.

Although the mesh member is employed as the air permeable member, thematerial for the air permeable member is not limited thereto. Anymaterials that permit air (gas) to pass therethrough from one side tothe other side thereof, for example, a grid-pattern material, may beemployed.

The air supply means 7, 7′ may include a housing 12 having air outlets13, and compressed air supply means such as a compressor or a blower forsupplying compressed air into the housing 12, and be adapted todischarge the compressed air supplied to the housing 12 from thecompressed air supply means into the space. In this case, the air supplymeans may include a switching mechanism for opening and closing the airoutlets 13. The air supply mechanisms 8 are not limited to those,described above, but may be any mechanism which is capable of generatingconstant air streams, for example, a rotor type air supply mechanismwhich includes a cylindrical member and a plurality of blades providedon an outer circumference of the cylindrical member as extending axiallythereof.

In the aforesaid cases, the louvers 14 are provided horizontally, butmay be provided vertically so as to be rotatable in opposite directionsabout vertical axes thereof. Alternatively, both the horizontal louversand the vertical louvers may be provided. Further, driving means may beprovided for periodically rotating the louvers 14 in oppositedirections. Thus, the flow directions of the air streams canautomatically and periodically be varied so as to cause the air streamsto flow in various ways within the space.

The amusement systems shown in FIGS. 1 to 8 may each be constructed suchthat the support posts and the bottom and peripheral portion of thespace are constituted by air bags of a polyvinyl chloride sheet filledwith air as in the amusement system shown in FIG. 9. With thisarrangement, the amusement systems are imparted with cushioning propertyand is hence safe for players. In addition, the players can getamusement with a floating feeling.

As shown in FIG. 10, the air supply means 7 including the plurality ofair supply mechanisms 8 may be divided into separate cells for therespective air supply mechanisms 8. With this arrangement, the cells ofthe air supply means 7 each have a smaller size thereby to be easier totransport. FIG. 10 illustrates a modification of the amusement system 1shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, as a typical example, wherein the air supplymeans 7 is divided into separate cells.

As shown in FIG. 11, second air supply means 50 may be provided in anupper portion of the space for generating air streams flowing down fromthe upper portion to the bottom portion of the space. With thisarrangement, the air streams generated by the air supply means 7 and theair streams generated by the second air supply means 50 are commingledwith each other, so that complicatedly variable air streams aregenerated. Such air streams cause the balloons retained in the space tofloat and swirl in a complicatedly variable manner. FIG. 11 illustratesa modification of the amusement system 1 shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, as atypical example, wherein the second air supply means 50 is provided.

As shown in FIG. 12, the air supply means 7″ may be located in cornersof the space defined by the partition member 2 in the amusement systemsshown in FIG. 1 to 8. FIG. 12 illustrates a modification of theamusement system 40 shown in FIG. 8 as a typical example.

As shown in FIG. 13, the air supply mechanisms 8 may be inclineddownward to such an extent that the strength of the supplied air streamscan properly be maintain in the amusement systems shown in FIGS. 1 to 8,10 and 12. FIG. 13 illustrates a modification of the amusement system 1shown in FIG. 2 as a typical example.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

As described above, the amusement system according to the presentinvention is advantageously installed in a resort or amusement placesuch as an amusement park or an ordinary park, a department store or ashopping center, where infants are likely to gather.

What is claimed is:
 1. A facility for playing comprising: a plurality ofballoons retained in a space defined by a partition by a partitionmember; and at least one air supply means for causing air to flowwhithin the space, wherein the air supply means is provided adjacent thebottom of the space inside the space, whereby the air supply meansgenerates an air stream which flows along the bottom of the space, sothat the balloons retained in the space are stirred by the air steamgenerated by the air supply means thereby to float and swirl, furthercomprising an air impermeable member provided downstream of the airsupply means separately from the partition member, whereby the airstream generated by air supply means is deflected by the air impermeablemember provided separately from the partition members, so that theballoons retained in the space are stirred by the air steam from the airfrom the supply means deflected by the air impermeable member thereby tofloat and swirl.
 2. A facility for playing comprising: a plurality ofballoons retained in a space defined by a partition member; and at leastone air supply means for causing air to flow with in the space, whereinthe air supply means is provided adjacent the bottom of the spaceoutside the space, said partition member comprises an air permeablemember, whereby the air supply means generated an air stream which flowsalong the bottom of the space, so that balloons retailed in the spaceare stirred by the air stream generated by the air supply means therebyto float and swirl.
 3. A facility for playing as set forth in claim 2,said partition member having an air impermeable member wherein the airimpermeable member constitutes at least a portion of the partitionmember located in a spaced and opposed relation with respect to the airsupply means, whereby the air stream generated by the air supply meansis deflected by the air impermeable member opposed to the air supplymeans so that the balloons retained in the space are stirred by the airstream from the air supply means and the air stream deflected by the airimpermeable member thereby to float and swirl.
 4. A facility for playingas set forth in claim 2, further comprising an air impermeable memberprovided downstream of the air supply means separately from thepartition member, whereby the air stream generated by the air supplymeans is deflected by the air impermeable member provide separately fromthe partition member, so that the balloons retained in the space arestirred by the steam from the air supply means and the air streamdeflected by the second air impermeable member thereby to float andswirl.
 5. A facility for playing as set forth in claim 2, where the airsupply means includes at least one pair of air supply means are disposedin such a relation that air supply directions there are crosswise toeach other, whereby the air steams supplied from the air supply meanscollide with each in the space to swirl in the space, so that theballoons retained in the space are stirred by the air streams from theair steams from the air supply means and the swirling stream thereby tofloat and swirl.
 6. A facility for playing as set forth in claim 2 to 5,wherein the air supply means includes an air supply mechanism forsupplying energized gas in a predetermined direction, and a housingaccommodating there the air supply mechanism and having an air oulet andan air oulet, whereby a constant air steam is supplied throught the airoulet.
 7. A facility for playing as set forth in claim 6, wherein theair outlet is provided with louvers for changing a flow direction of theair steam supplied from the air supply mechanism.
 8. A facility forplaying as set forth in claim 7, wherein driver means for driving thelouvers is provided.